Hormone therapy treatment behind bars

SYRACUSE -- After seeing the reaction the Chelsea Manning story got on our Facebook page, we reached out to the Justice Department in Syracuse. We wanted to see how the Justice Department would deal with inmates if one was in a similar situation to Chelsea Manning.

The corrections department says at any given time there are 50 inmates who are going through hormone therapy treatment across the state.

Before being approved for treatment inmates must first be diagnosed with Gender Dysphoria by a doctor, just like they would with any other medical condition or disorder.

If it is determined that hormones are needed they will be prescribed and paid for by the Department of Corrections, which in turn is funded by you, the tax payer.

Esteban Gonzales, of the Onondaga County Justice Center, has the responsibility to make sure these inmates are physically safe, even inmates like former Fort Drum Soldier Chelsea Manning, who is in the process of becoming a woman.

Gonzalessays, We are responsible for their care, custody and control. That includes safety and medical treatments.

The Department of Corrections doesn't have a specific price for how much this treatment can cost. It's really the concept that even one penny of tax payers money is going toward this.

Gonzales says, Some people already commit crimes to get a warm place to stay and a few meals. So could the Chelsea Manning story encourage others to try to get locked up just to go through this therapy and have you pay for it? He says Does that happen? Yes. Can I give you specific statistics for here? No, but we would be nave to think it doesnt occur.

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Hormone therapy treatment behind bars